Tony Dungy
FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2019, file photo, Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis. Pro football is discovering that the spirit of the Rooney Rule is being violated. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made that a point of emphasis in his state of the league speech during Super Bowl week. So count on Goodell finding ways to more strongly implement the policy that requires teams to interview minority candidates for coaching and executive positions.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
NFL putting stronger Rooney Rule front and center

By Barry Wilner Feb. 18, 2020 05:35 PM EST

FILE - At left, in a Dec. 22, 2019, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles against the Chicago Bears in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago. At right, in a Dec. 29, 2019, file photo, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) rushes against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston. Derrick Henry has just about carried Tennessee's offense to the AFC championship game. The Titans have been stellar on defense as well. Now they take on Patrick Mahomes and the potent Kansas City Chiefs for a trip to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/File)
Tom Brady most dominant player in AFC championship history

By Arnie Stapleton Jan. 17, 2020 03:58 AM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2016, file photo, former NFL player Donnie Shell smiles during induction ceremonies for former teammate Tony Dungy (not shown), in Canton, Ohio. Donnie Shell knew he was ahead of his time. It's why the Pittsburgh Steelers safety never worried about whether he'd get into the Hall of Fame. His long wait ended this week, when he got the call more than 30 years after playing his final game. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Worth the wait; Steelers' great Shell reveling in Hall nod

By Will Graves Jan. 16, 2020 07:41 PM EST

NFL announces nominees for Shula coaching award

By The Associated Press Jan. 09, 2020 03:14 PM EST
The NFL has announced its 32 nominees for the Don Shula Award to honor the top high school coaches in the country. The nominees, one per...

Seattle Seahawks' John Ursua, left, makes a catch at the one-yard line to give the team a first down with less than a minute left as San Francisco 49ers' K'Waun Williams tackles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Seattle. The 49ers won 26-21. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Final drive of regular-season finale featured everything

Arnie Stapleton Dec. 31, 2019 04:25 AM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston signals during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
NFL Today, Week 15

By The Associated Press Dec. 15, 2019 10:52 PM EST

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) gives autographs after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Brady throws 2 TDs, Patriots beat Bengals to clinch playoffs

By Joe Kay Dec. 15, 2019 04:18 PM EST

File-This Dec. 22, 2012, file photo shows Pittsburgh Steelers chairman emeritus Dan Rooney attending the unveiling of a marker commemorating the 40th anniversary of the "Immaculate Reception" at the sight of the catch on the Northside of Pittsburgh. In 2003, the NFL had three minority head coaches: future Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dungy, Herman Edwards and Marvin Lewis. In the 12 previous seasons, there had been six. Total. Considering that the majority of the players in the league 16 years ago were minorities, that imbalance was enormous. And disturbing. And, frankly, it was unfair. Paul Tagliabue, then the NFL commissioner, put together a committee that established the "Rooney Rule," which requires all teams with coaching and front office vacancies to interview minority candidates. The rule, long overdue, was named for Rooney, then president of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the overseer of that committee. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
NFL At 100: Rooney Rule has its positives and its faults

By Barry Wilner Dec. 06, 2019 12:45 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2019, file photo, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) carries on a pass reception in front of Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones (45) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans. Thomas could shatter the NFL record for receptions in a season, even though he was without star quarterback Drew Brees for more than a month. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
AP MVP is not just for QBs and is far from decided

By Barry Wilner Nov. 22, 2019 02:50 PM EST

Paul Brown, Halas, Lambeau among all-time coaching finalists

By The Associated Press Nov. 20, 2019 11:00 AM EST
Such architects of the NFL as Paul Brown, George Halas and Curly Lambeau are among the 20 coaching finalists for the league’s All-Time Team. ...

El quarterback de los Ravens de Baltimore Lamar Jackson lanza un pase en el juego ante los Texans de Houston el domingo 17 de noviembre del 2019. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
On weekend of blowouts, Broncos bow out

By Arnie Stapleton Nov. 18, 2019 03:25 AM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2009 file photo Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, top, and his teammate Willie Colon celebrate after the Steelers' 27-23 win against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game in Tampa, Fla. Overall, the AFC won seven of 10 Super Bowls in the 2000s decade with Roethlisberger leading Pittsburgh to a pair of titles. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, file)
NFL at 100: Brady and Belichick build their dynasty

By Arnie Stapleton Nov. 15, 2019 12:10 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 30, 1994, file photo, Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith (22) runs for short yardage against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXVIII action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The NFL became a truly booming business in the 1990s, with multi-billion-dollar TV contracts, expansion to 30 teams, and a late-decade wave of new stadiums. Players began to pick up a bigger share of the wealth, with the dawn of unrestricted free agency. The results on the field were largely dominated by the NFC, with Smith and the Cowboys, Steve Young and the San Francisco 49ers, and Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers enjoying the most success. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan, File)
NFL at 100: Cowboys took control in the '90s as sport grew

By Dave Campbell Nov. 08, 2019 07:15 PM EST

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll speaks to back judge Perry Paganelli (46) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
New pass interference reviews lead to lots of confusion

By Dave Campbell Nov. 08, 2019 02:29 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gestures toward an official during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, in Baltimore. Several teams are tanking, penalties are wrecking the flow of games, some of the biggest stars have been sidelined, the new pass interference rule appears to have been adapted only to quiet the uproar that started after last season's NFC Championship game, and even though ratings are up, it all looks like one big mess on TV. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)
Yellow flags, red flags, black eyes for NFL's 100th season

By Arnie Stapleton Nov. 05, 2019 03:10 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 1971, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers' John Fuqua (33) is brought down Kansas City Chiefs' Willie Lanier after a 3-yard game during an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo. Lanier was one of the first black middle linebackers in pro football, breaking a barrier that kept minorities from playing the position regarded as the "quarterback of the defense." Lanier was a key part of the Kansas City defense that dominated the AFL and won a Super Bowl following the 1969 season. (AP Photo/William Straeter, File)
NFL reveals top game changers, Nos. 31-100

By Josh Dubow Oct. 25, 2019 10:00 PM EDT

Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) takes a defensive position during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 30-29. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
NFL cracks down on internal dissent over officiating

By Arnie Stapleton Oct. 22, 2019 11:40 AM EDT

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guards Ramon Foster (73) and Alejandro Villanueva (78) call for help after quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) was injured in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Patrick Mahomes' magic fizzles without mobility

By Arnie Stapleton Oct. 08, 2019 02:56 AM EDT

Tony and Lauren Dungy pen a fourth children's book

By The Associated Press Sep. 13, 2019 12:00 PM EDT
Tony Dungy was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in part because of his contributions to football as a whole. Yes, he was a player on a Super...

ARCHIVO - En esta foto del 20 de agosto del 2019, el jugador de los Raides de Oakland Antonio Brown sonríe antes de prácticas en Alameda, California. Brown fue dejado en libertad por los Raiders el sábado, 7 de septiembre del 2019. (AP Foto/Jeff Chiu)
Some wonder if Brown will blow up the Patriots, too

By Arnie Stapleton Sep. 10, 2019 03:01 AM EDT